PTA Halts Purchase of ONIC SIMs

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has ordered PTML to immediately stop issuing new ONIC SIMs and eSIMs, activating new connections, taking new subscriptions and carrying out related marketing and commercial activities.

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• According to The regulator additionally, digital Technology Management Services (DTMS), a separate firm, handles ONIC's marketing, customer acquisition, Know Your Customer processes, SIM logistics, sales and customer service.
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• Under the agreement with PTML, DTMS is entitled to 55 percent of the relevant revenue during the first three years.

PTA has allowed PTML three months to move all existing ONIC customers to PTML and ensure that their data and records remain protected during the process.

Notably, the firm must additionally submit a compliance report to PTA within seven working days confirming that the ordered activities have been halted and explaining the steps taken to comply.

As well as direct customer operations, in its eight-page order, PTA remarked ONIC has separate branding, packages, a dedicated mobile app, billing and customer management systems. These features create its business model similar to an MVNO.

PTA additionally highlighted the role of Digital Technology Management Services (DTMS). It handles ONIC's marketing, customer acquisition, Know Your Customer checks, SIM logistics, sales and customer backing.

PTA remarked PTML can continue ONIC by operating it fully under its existing mobile licence or obtain an MVNO licence if it wants to keep the current structure. ONIC Can Still Operate in Pakistan Under 2 Conditions.

After removing features that create ONIC function as a separate MVNO, operate ONIC entirely as its own product or brand under its existing mobile operator licence. Obtain an MVNO licence and retain ONIC's current operating structure.

PTA remarked ONIC's separate branding, customised packages, digital platform, billing system, customer management and customer-care arrangements provide it the characteristics of an MVNO.

According to The regulator additionally, digital Technology Management Services (DTMS), a separate firm, handles ONIC's marketing, customer acquisition, Know Your Customer processes, SIM logistics, sales and customer service. DTMS additionally has access to subscriber-related data and receives 55 percent of relevant revenue for the first three years under its agreement with PTML.

Until ONIC is regularized, PTML remains responsible for its regulatory, technical, consumer-protection, security and national-security obligations.

Existing ONIC customers will have to be migrated to PTML within three months. Stay Connected with ProPakistani.

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Taken together, the developments around PTA Halts Purchase of ONIC SIMs point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.